Amusement apparatus



AMUSEMENT APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED ocT.15, 1920.

Patented Mal 21, 1922.

ATTORNEYS- FRANK R. CHESTER, OF ASB'UIRY PA RK, hl'EV/JERSEY.

' AMUSEMENT nrrnnnros.

Application filed October 15, 1920.

Be it known that l, l ninn it. (lincs'rinz, a. citizen of the United States, and a resident of Asbury Park, in the county of Moi mouth and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Amusement 31pparatus, of which the following is a full clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved amusement apparatus more especially designed for use in pleasure resorts, exhibition grounds, fairs and other places of amusement, and arranged to enable a number of players to participate at the time and to provide a rather unexpected and startling effect at the end of each play or game.

Another object is to require considerable skill on the part of a player to successfully actuate the apparatus in the shortest time to win the gan'ie. r

lVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction as hereinafter shown and described and then specifically pointed out in the'claims. 1

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings forming a partof this specification, in which similar characters of reierence indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a cross section of the improved amusement apparatus;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary front elevation of the same;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional plan view of the mouth of a toy balloon held in a supporting clamp, the section being on. the line of Figure 1;

Figure 1 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of the controlling valve for the fluid pressure of the actuating means; and

Figure 5 is a cross section of amodified form of the improved amusement apparatus. i

The players range one alongside the other in front of a counter or a similar structure, and each of the players manipulates a handwheel 11 secured to the front end of a shaft 12 journa-led in suitable bearings 13 and 14 arranged on the upper portion of the counter 10, plainly shown in Fig ure 1. The rear end of the shaft 12 is provided with a crank 15 connected by a pitman 16 with the piston rod 17 of a piston 18 reciprocating in the cylinder 19 of Specification of Letters Patent.

of the pipe 25 into the yatented Main 21, 1922.

Serial No. 417,160;

an ordinary air pump of any approved conrtruction and mounted on the counter 10. The rear of the counter 10 is provided with a support 20 on the top of which are mounted holders 21 corresponding in number to the wheels 11 and disposed opposite the some, and each clamp or holder 21, is adapted to clamp and close the mouth 22 of a hollow fragile object 23 such as an inflatable toy balloon supported in inflated condition on the corresponding clamp 21 Each fragile object 23 is adapted to be pierced by a piercing member 2i controlled by an actuating mechanism actuated by fluid pressure such as compressed air, the flow of which is controlled by the corresponding handwheel 11. F or this purpose the following arrangement is made:

The cylinder 19 is connected by an outlet pipe 25 with a cylinder 26 connected by a pipe 27 with a second cylinder 28 so that thecom 'iressed air from the aircylinder 19 of the air pump supplies both cylinders 26 and 28 with compressed air to raise the pistons 29 and 30 mounted in the said cylinders 26 and 28. The piston 30 is pressed in a downward direction by a spring; 31, and the piston rod 32 of the piston. 30 terminates in a cut-off valve 33 mounted to slide in a valve casing 34- arranged in a pipe 35 connecting a compressed air tank 36 with a cylinder 37 mounted to swing on a pivot 38 arranged on top of a support 39 forming part of the counter '10. In the cylinder 3? slides a piston 40 having its piston rod l1 terminating in a pawl4l2 en gaging ratchet teeth 43 formed on a bar 41%. carrying the piercing element 24 and mounted to slide in bearings 4-5 and 46 at tachcd to the supports 29 and 30, respectively. The cylinder 37' is normally held in the inclined position shown in Figure 1 by a spring 47 connecting the cylinder 37 with the support 39. On the top of the cylinder 87 is mounted a spring-presseddog 18 engaging the ratchet teeth 43 to hold the bar 4 1- against accidental downward movement as long as the cylinder 37 is held in the inclined position shown in Figure 1. v

lVhen a player turns the handwheel 11 the piston 18 of the air pump is actuatedto force compressed air from the cylinder 19 by way cylinder 26 and by way of the pipe 27 into the cylinder 28 to lift the piston 30 against the tension of the spring In lifting the piston 30 the valve 33 moves into an open position to allow compressed air to flow from the tank 36 into the cylinder 87 to move the piston -10 upward and. thus cause the pawl lilvto lift the bar at carrying the piercing member 24;. As the cxm'u'iressed air in the cylinder 28 accumulates. the valve 38 moves into a closed posi-.

tion and consequently the supply of compressed air from the tank 86 to'the cylinder 37 shut off, and as both cylinders 28 and 37 are provided with bleed holes 50 and 51 suilicient air escapes to allow the pistons 80 and 4.0 to move downward. The downward movement of the pistoiii 40 causes the pawl 4C2 to engage the next following tooth, and when the piston a0 is again pushed upward another upward movement is given to the bar 11 i and the piercing member 2a. Thus by the arrangement described an upward step by step movement is given to the bar le and its piercing element :24: to move eventually the piercing element into piercing contact with the inflated balloon 23, to pierce the same and allow the latter to collapse.

'l he piston 2?.) in the cylinder 26 is pressed downunird by a spring (50, and the piston rod 61 of the piston 2-9 is provided with an arm 02 to which one end of. a rope, cable, or other flexible connection 63 is attached. This flexible connection 63 passes under guide piillleys 6 1, 65, 66 and connectsat its other end with the cylinder 8'? toswing the of the bar latter from the inclined position shown in Figure l to the right to d sengage the pawl 42 and the dog 48 from the ratchet teeth e8 l at the time moved upward by excessive air pressure accumulating in the lower portion of the cyl-- inder 526. .lt will be noticed that when this takes place the bar a l drops to lowermost position and its upward movementagain begins only ailtc r the return of the cylinder to the normal position shown in Figure 1 and the lifting of the piston 30 to move the valve into open )osition. From the foregoing it will be seen that by the arrangement described a step by movement is given to the bar M on the player turning the handwheel 11, but, in case the handwheel 11 is turned too fast and too much air forced by cylinders 26 and 28, thenthe upward feed ing movement given to the bar t l ceases and the bar is allowed to drop on swingingthe.

cylinder from normal position to the right, as above explained.

in playing the game, the players turn the" handwheels 11 with a view to move the piercing elements 2% into piercing engage ment with the inflated balloons 23, but by con-' trolling the flow of air from the tank 86 to the cylinder 3? by the valve an uncertain element is provided to retard the movement of the bar let in case the player turns the handwheel too test or too slow, and a furthereby the piston 29 is ol a player the air pump into the ther uncertain element is provided by the releasing device for the bar 4A: to release the latter and allow the same to drop in case player turns the handwheel 11 too fast and forces excessive compressed air into 26. It is understood that the player who is able to pierce the balloon 23 in the shortest time is'the winner. It is evident that the playing of the apparatus affords considerable amusement to the players as well as to the onlookers and a startling effect is provided on the deflating of the balloon incident to the piercing thereof.

In practice, the clamp or holder 21 is provided with acentral eyelet 60 adapted to engage a stud 61 held on the support 20 to allow convenient removal of the clamp and opening of the same for disengagement with the mouth 22 of the bursted balloon, and replacing the latter by a newinfiated balloon. Thus the operator in charge of the amusement apparatus can quickly and conveniently replace a pierced deflated balloon by an inflated balloon prior to starting another game.

In the modified form shown in Figure 5, the piercing elementTO is stationary while the fragile object 71, that is, an inflated balloon, is movable towards the piercing ele ment to be pierced by the latter. For the purpose mentioned, the piercing element TO is attached to posts '72 arranged on the top. of an inclined guideway 78 on which is the cylinder mounted to slide a carriage 'Z lsupporting ing over a guide pulley Sl-and winding on a drum 82 mounted to rotate loosely on a shaft 83 journaled in suitable bearings 84-. I

and 85, of whichthe bearing 85 iis attached to the front of 7th counter or similar structure 86. On the outer end of the shaft 83 is secured ahandwheel 87 under the control to rotate the shaft 83 and with it he friction disks 88 and 89 and the drum 82 to wind up the flexible connection 80 with a view to draw the carriage 74: and the balloon 71 towards the piercing element 7 0 to pierce the balloon 71 and thus allowair to escape therefrom. On the shaft 83 is secured a friction disk 88 engaged by a friction disk 89 forming part of the drum'82 and held normally in engagement with the friction disk 88 by a spring 90 coiled on the shaft and hearing against the inner end of the drum 82. The

spring 90 abuts against a collar 91 secured t the shaft 83; The rear end of the shaft 83 is provided with a crank 95 connected by apitman 96 with the piston rod 97 of a piston 98 mounted to reciprocate in the. cylinder; 99 of an air pump of usual construction.

The air pump cylinder 99 is connected by a pipe 100 with a cylinder 101 similar to the cylinder 28 and provided with a bleed hole 102. In the cylinder 101 is mounted a piston 103 pressed on by a spring 10% and having a piston rod 105 provided with a valve 100 similar to the valve 33 and sliding in a valve casing 10? arranged in a pipe 108 connecting a compressed air tank 109 with a cylinder 110. In the cylinder 110 is mounted to slide a piston 111 having its piston rod 112 connected with a shitting lever 113 engaging an annular groove 114: in the hub 115 of the friction disk 89. It will be noticed that when the valve 106 moves into open position compressed air :t'rom the tank 109 can pass by way of the pipe 108 into the cylinder 110 to move the cylinder 110 to the right thus imparting r swinging movement to the shifting lever 113 to move the friction disk 89 out of engagement with the friction disk 88 thus interrupting the winding up of the flexible connection for the time being, that is, until the supply of air from the cylinder 99 of the air pump to the cylinder 101 decreases, and the air pressure in the cylinder decreases by the escape of the air through the bleed hole 102 to allow the valve 106 to move into closed position. lVhen this takes place the air .trom the'tank 109 to the cylinder 1'10 shut oti' and the friction disk 89 returns to normal position by the action of the spring to cause the drum 82 to rotate on the player rotating the handwheel 87. It will be noticed that by the arrangement described similar uncertain elements are provided as above described in reference to the apparatus shown in F igures 1 and 2, and hence considerable skill is required on the part of a player to successfully move the balloon into engagement with its piercing element 70 in the shortest time to win the game.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent?- 1. An. amusement apparatus, comprising a fragile object, demolishing means, actuating means for moving the said object and the said demolishing means into contact one with the other to demolish the said object, and a hand-operated controlling means connected with the said actuating means and provided with automatic governing devices governing the movement of the said actuatingmeans.

2. An amusement apparatus, comprising a fragile object, external demolishing means for demolishing the same, and ahand-operated controlling means provided with automatic controlling devices to govern the demolishing effect of the object by the said external den'iolishing means.

3. An amusement apparatus, comprising an inflatable toy balloon, piercing means adapted to pierce the said balloon, actuatoperated controlling means connected with the said actuating means, and provided with automatic governing devices governing the movement of the said actuating means.

An amusement apparatus, comprising an inflatable toy balloon, piercing means adapted to pierce the said balloon, actuating means moving the said balloon and't-he said piercing means into piercing relation one to the other to deflate the balloon, a handoperated controlling means connected with the said actuating means, and fluid pressure governing means connected with the said actuating means to automatically control the movement thereof. 6. An amusement apparatus, comprising an inflatable toy balloon, piercing means adapted to pierce the said balloon, actuating means moving the said balloon and the said piercing means into piercingrela-tion one to the' other to deflate the balloon, a hand-operated controlling means connected with the said actuating means, fluid pressure governing means connected with the said actuating means to automatically control the movement thereof, and means for actuating the said fluid pressure governing means by the said hand-operated controlling means.

7. An amusement device, comprising an inflatable toy balloon, piercing means adapted to pierce the said balloon, actuat- 111g means moving the said balloon and piercing means into piercing relation one to the other to pierce the balloon, fluid pres sure means for the said actuating means, and a handpperated controlling means controlling the said fluid pressure means.

8. An amusement device, comprising an inflatable toy balloon, means for holding the said balloon in inflated position, a slidable bar having a piercing point adapted to pierce the said balloon, actuating means imparting a step by step movement to the said bar, and a hand-operated controlling means for the said actuating means.

9. An amusement device, comprising an inflatable toy balloon, means for holding the said balloon in inflated position, a sli able bar having a piercing point adapted to pierce the said balloon, actuating means imparting a step by step movement to the said bar and including fluid pressure means, a hand-operated air pump, and a valve controlling the flow of the air from the said fluid pressure means to the actuating means, the said valve being controlled by compressed air from the air pump.

10. An amusement device, comprising an inflatable toy balloon, means for holding the said balloon in inflated position, a slidable bar having a piercing point adapted to pierce the said balloon, actuating means for imparting a step by step movement to the said bar and including fluid pressure means, a hand-operated air pump, a valve controlling the flow oi the air from the said fluid pressure means to the actuating means, the said valve being controlled by compressed air from the air pump, and a releasing devicee ior the said actuating means and controlled. by compressed air from the said air pump.

ll. An amusement device, comprising an inflatable toy balloon, demolishing means :for thesaid balloon, a handoperated air pump,

tvvo connected cylinders having sprlngpressed pistons and oi which one is connected with said air pump. the said piston or one of the cylinders controlling the said demolishing means, and a releasing device for the said demolishing means and controlled by the piston in the other cylinder.

12-. An amusement apparatus includinga destructible' object, demolishing means adapted to effect a destruction of said object, manually operable meanstor effecting a contact between said object and said demolishing means, and controlling means connected to said operating means for varying the time required to effect said contact.

An amusement apparatus including in combination a balloon, means for supporting said balloon, demolishing means or said balloon, and operating means for causing contact tobe efl'ected between said balloon and demolishing means.

14:. An amusementapparatus including a balloon and means for supporting the same, demolishing means including a piercing element disposed adjacent to said balloon, and an operating means for moving the Wall of the balloon and piercing element With respect to each other whereby to eiieet a contact between said piercing element and wall to destroy the balloon. V

An amusement apparatus including a balloon, a demolishing member, the balloon and member being movable relatively one to theother, and means for bringing the said member and balloon l orciblyinto contact with each other.

16. An amusement apparatus including a balloon, fixed means for supporting the bal loon, demolishingmeans comprising a piercing element, and operating means for moving the piercing element into contact with the balloon to pierce the same. i FRANK CHESTER. 

